COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Seven games against teams from the
post-season, participation in the Hall of Fame Showcase, the
always-tough 18-game Ohio Valley Conference lineup and 15 home
games highlight the schedule awaiting the Tennessee Tech
men’s basketball team and coach Mike Sutton in 2009-2010.

“We’ve always had a good schedule, but this could be
the toughest of all,” Sutton said. “We have five very
difficult games early in the schedule, including on the road at the
No. 1 team in the country in Kansas and a couple of Top 10 or Top
20 teams in Memphis and Minnesota. Victories will be well-earned
with this schedule as we could play really well and come up short
against all of these teams, even at home.”

Besides those top-notch opponents, the Golden Eagles will host Ball
State and Evansville in Eblen Center, and late in the year face a
road game against what could be another outstanding opponent in a
Bracket Buster contest. The past few years, Tech’s Bracket
Buster foes have included Bradley, Northwestern State, East
Tennessee, all NCAA Tourney teams, and Ball State last year when it
was leading its conference.

As part of the Hall of Fame Showcase, Tech will play games at
Memphis, Kansas and Central Arkansas, and hosts Oakland University.
In addition to those tournament games, the Golden Eagles will also
play contests at Minnesota and Southern Utah in the first
month.

“Our first three Fridays of the season are games against
teams that were in the NCAA tournament last year, Minnesota,
Memphis and Kansas,” Sutton pointed out. Tech opens the
regular season on Friday, Nov. 13, at Big Ten foe Minnesota,
coached by Sutton’s friend and former mentor, Tubby
Smith.

“It’s the season opener, and it will be
difficult,” Sutton said. “Minnesota is extremely
talented, they’re coming off an NCAA tournament bid, and
they’re very excited about basketball up there. The game is
already sold out, and they’re good."

“They have a lot of size and athleticism and experience, so
that will be a big challenge,” Sutton said. “It’s
a good game because it helps us financially as well.”

Staying on the road, Tech visits Central Arkansas on Nov. 16 and
Memphis on Nov. 20, both part of the Hall of Fame Showcase.

Tech’s regular season home opener is Nov. 23 against Oakland
in another Showcase game in Eblen Center.

The team visits Southern Utah on Nov. 25, then wraps up the
Showcase at the University of Kansas on Nov. 27.

“We have a very tough early season schedule, which will be a
challenge for us,” Sutton said. “We’ve been very
fortunate here. We’ve played in some big-time arenas, and
I’ve coached in nearly every arena in the country."

“Kansas is….,” Sutton began, reflecting on the
tradition of the KU program. “Dr. Naismith was there, the
court is named after him. It will be big there. That will be a
difficult place to play. They don’t lose very often at
home."

“Our players like the challenge, and I would think Kansas
will be No. 1 in the country at the time we play there,” said
Tech’s veteran coach.

“The Hall of Fame Showcase is a good thing because we get a
home game out of the deal, but the problem is that home game is
against an Oakland team which is really good,” Sutton said.
“Oakland is a really good team with a lot of guys back, and
they won 20-some games. That makes the schedule even more
challenging.”

The Golden Eagles will be at home for four of its six games in
December, hosting Evansville on Dec. 1 to open the month. Included
in the home games will be visits from Bryan College on Dec. 10,
Ball State on Dec. 12, and Union on Dec. 30.

“Evansville and Ball State are two non-conference teams from
high conferences,” Sutton said. “It is by far the
toughest schedule we’ve played here, and it’s a
challenge, but we’re looking forward to the challenges."

Tech opens the OVC schedule with a road game at Jacksonville State
on Dec. 5, the only league game for the Golden Eagles until
January. After hosting Union on Dec. 30, Tech resumes league action
with a road trip to Southeast Missouri and Eastern Illinois, Jan.
2-4.

Tech’s first OVC home game is Jan. 7 against Morehead State,
who won the league tournament and represented the OVC in the NCAA
Tournament. It opens a crucial stretch where Tech plays six of
eight OVC games at home.

That homecourt edge will be as important as ever in the tough
league race, according to Sutton.
“The league has continued to get stronger from
top-to-bottom,” he said. “There are a lot of teams who
return a lot of players and went deep into the conference
tournament last year. Morehead State went on a four-game losing
streak, then turned around and won the conference tournament. I
think Murray State will probably be the preseason favorite
again.”

The league slate includes two games with UT Martin, a team which
reached the post-season with a visit to the NIT. The Skyhawks are
led by one of three new coaches in the OVC.

“There are three new coaches in the league, and I think
you’ll see some changes at those places,” Sutton said.
“The strength of our league will increase because there are a
lot of teams who have the to potential to finish in the top half of
the league."

Tech is scheduled to participate once again in a Bracket Buster
game on Feb. 20, but won’t know its opponent until close to
the event. After that, the Golden Eagles host Jacksonville State on
Feb. 27 to close out the regular season.

“Each year you want to try to do your absolute best to win
the conference,” Sutton said. “For us, we’ve got
some returning guys and we’ve got some new guys, so hopefully
our experience will help us balance that."

“To get a home game in the first round of the OVC tournament
you have to finish in the top four. That’s one of the things
that you set your sites on. We want to be really tough at home, and
try to steal some games on the road in a league that’s
good,” he said.

The OVC Tournament is March 2-6, with the top eight teams playing
in the first round and the four surviving squads advancing to the
finals in Nashville.

Season tickets for Golden Eagle basketball are on sale at the
Athletics Ticket Office in Eblen Center or online at TTUsports.com,
or by calling (931) 372-3940.